Obituary of Thomas F. Diffley

Diffley, Thomas F., 91, a 40 year resident of Somers, NY, died on January 1st in Bridgewater, NJ. He was born August 25, 1925 to the late Thomas F. and Charlotte (Malecki) Diffley. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and Pratt Institute. Tom volunteered to serve in the US Navy from 1943-1946, a veteran of 5 invasions on the USS Oberon (AKA-14). He was an Executive with NY Telephone/Verizon for 39 years in White Plains and New York City, retiring in 1985. He was the Chairman of the Heritage Hills Men’s Club for over 30 years and a faithful member of St. Joseph’s RC Church, Somers, NY where he served as an usher. Tom thoroughly enjoyed life with his beloved Rose Marie to whom he was married for 59 years. They loved living in Heritage Hills surrounded by great friends. Tom looked forward to leading the 10A-Men weekly meetings and organizing the annual New Years Eve party for over 30 years. The membership of the 10A-Men recently honored him by renaming their club the “Tom Diffley 10A-Men’s Club”. Tom enjoyed classic movies, detective shows and NY Giants football. One of his greatest enjoyments was cruising. Since his retirement, Tom and Rose Marie cruised 79 times to many ports worldwide, and always returned with new stories to share with their family. Preceded in death in 2007 by his loving wife Rose Marie (Socha), Tom is survived by his daughter Audrey R Diffley of Bridgewater, NJ and his son Thomas J. and his wife Frances of Andover, NJ. Preceded in death by his brothers Richard (surviving wife Mary) of Hicksville, NY and Edward (and his wife, the late Ann) of Earlton, NY. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Tom’s family will receive friends on Friday, Jan. 6 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, NY. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Sat, Jan. 7 at 11:30am at St. Joseph’s RC Church, 95 Plum Brook Road, Somers. Interment with full military honors will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Make check payable to: American Diabetes Association or go to www.diabetes.org/donate.